Choose Your Health with Anna Sheinman

How To Be A Better Skier: 3 Ways To Improve Your Skiing With Yoga

Are you a beginner or an advanced skier wishing to improve your skiing?

If yes, this article is for you! You will learn how to use yoga techniques to conquer your fears, improve balance, stay present and have a blast skiing.

1) Breathe to Conquer Your Fear

Fear is excitement without the breath. ~Fritz Perls

I am not a courageous person by nature. However, I’ve discovered, that at certain critical moments of my life, I could find courage in myself to move forward and take leaps of faith. I also realized that there are only two choices in life 1) you can hide in your comfort zone and allow your fears to rule your life or 2) you can face your fears and live your life to the fullest. In fact, courage is just like a muscle. By practicing courage, we can build our courage muscle. And we must work this muscle just like any other muscle. First a little, and then a bit more. All the exciting things require a bit more courage than we now have.

I’ve skied on and off for about ten years. My skiing love affair began with my husband buying me my first ski lesson for my 31st birthday. In addition to not being a courageous person by nature, I was afraid of heights. However, I loved being outdoors, the beauty of winter, the solitude of the chair life and the rush of going down the slope. Also, I hate giving up to allow fears to rule my life.

So, only one way to go – with some breaths take a leap down the mountain!

Home Breathing Practice (between 5 and 10 minutes):

Block between 5 and 10 minutes when you won’t be interrupted.

Set the alarm, book your calendar, and commit to this practice daily!

Keep it simple, keep it consistent.

Settle in a comfortable position (sitting or laying down).

Inhale and exhale through your nose for the count for about 12 to 20 rounds.

As you inhale focus on your chest raising.

As you exhale, gently pull your belly button towards your spine.

Make your breath smooth and even like ocean waves.

Keep your mind focused on your breaths.

In fact, stop whatever you are doing right now and take a few deep breaths. How does it make you feel?

When the fear creeps into your mind whether you are sitting on a lift chair, with your teeth chattering or about to go down the moguls, use the same technique to quiet your mind and focus on the present.

2) Cultivate Balance With Yoga

Yoga pose (asana) must have the dual qualities of alertness (sthira) and ease (sukha). The quality of alertness is one without tension. While the quality of relaxation is one without dullness or heaviness.

In skiing just like in yoga, we work on cultivating alertness with ease. Skiing puts you into an awkward position; especially you aren’t used to it. The boots push you forward, but the weight of the front of your skis pushes you back. Leaning forward or backward is dangerous. In fact, I think this might’ve contributed to my crush. So, you need to keep your legs under your torso while your shoulders pointing downhill. Practice balancing yoga poses to find balance on skis.

On The Mat (about 15 minutes):

Just like breathing exercises, you must allocate some uninterrupted time daily.Start with five-minute warm-up (options: walk, march in place, do some sun salutes)

On the slope: Assuming you’ve done your homework. So, your balance and strength are improving. Now, it is time to put it to a real test by using the same technique on the slopes. Start on the very easy terrain. Try sinking into a chair while distributing your weight evenly as you engage your core. Lift one leg as you ski and the other.

3) Stay Present with Meditation

Forever is composed of nows. – Emily Dickinson

The goal of yoga (meditation) is to cultivate the stage of sustained attention. Besides, you can think of meditation as being continually connected to the chosen object. In fact, I believe that the unfocused mind is an equivalent to death while skiing. On the other hand, skiing can be the meditation in motion. Your breath coordinates with movements. As you inhale you extend your legs, and as you exhale, you bend and retract.

Meditation Practice (between 5 to10 minutes)

Just like breathing and exercises, you have to commit to this practice on a daily basis. To do so, just keep it simple and short. Contrary to popular belief, meditation practice is not about sitting in cross-legged in a lotus pose for hours with an empty mind. Conversely, the practice of meditation is about focusing your mind on an object. Typically, the meditation object is recommended by a qualified teacher. It can be a mountain, a rising sun or a water stream – just to name a few.

We will use the mountain for our purposes

Find a comfortable sitting or laying position (can use the chair)

Inhale on the count of four through your mouth focusing on your chest expanding

Exhale on the count of four through your mouth as you slightly bring your belly button towards your spine

Repeat for 12 to 20 breaths

Keep your mind on your breaths making it smooth and even

If you mind wanders, put a label on your thought and return your focus to breathing

Visualize a mountain, focus on the mountain, become one with it

Explore the sensations you’ve experienced

Let go of the image and five your thanks to the mountain

On the slope: Remember your meditation practice, use the same technique to bring your mind to the present moment. Visualize your runs, see yourself going down the mountain.

Go Slow, Have Patience

As with anything, learning to ski takes time. So, if you have unreasonable expectations, you will get frustrated. Also, remember there is no shame in giving up. Skiing is no joke! You can have a blast enjoying the sports, but injuries are real. Do your homework, be confident in your abilities. Use caution, but don’t let the fear paralyze you. Take some deep breaths and focus on what you know. Also, take as many breaks as you need. You have to find your edge between pushing too much and just getting out of your comfort zone. Hire an instructor.

To conclude, skiing just like any other practice. The attitude of letting go and connecting with the inner presence of quiet and steadiness is the most important.